Books to Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month

Fights That Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt

An unputdownable read about LGBTQ+ history and standing up for what you believe in, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt.

Maybe there was a place in history for people like me, not on the edges of the story, but right in the centre.

Jesse has recently come out as non-binary, and is struggling to find their place at school, and ideas for their project on lost stories from history.

Thirty-five years earlier, Jesse’s cousin Lisa is falling for her best friend, but with new laws being introduced to restrict LGBT people’s rights, they’ll have to fight for the world to accept who they are.

When Jesse stumbles across Lisa’s teenage diary, they are fascinated and horrified by her stories of living a secret life and protesting in the streets. Now it’s Jesse’s turn to find a way to shine a spotlight on a history that mustn’t be forgotten.

Rainbow Revolutions: Power, Pride and Protest in the Fight for Queer Rights

From police raids to Pride, from shadows to rainbows: a queer victory story! On June 28 1969, around one o’clock in the morning, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village, New York. What happened that night would be a defining moment in queer history. Want to know what happened? Read this! From the bold speeches of activists Karl Ulrichs and Audre Lorde to the birth of Pride and queer pop culture, this inspiring book is a rainbow-bright tribute to the LGBTQ+ heroes who dared to be themselves, fight back and speak up for their rights.

• An impassioned and timely look at the fight for queer rights
• Key individuals, historical turning-points, Pride and more
• Written by queer activist and anthropologist Jamie Lawson
• Featuring bold, stylish colour artwork by Eve Lloyd Knight

Proud compiled by Juno Dawson

A stirring, bold and moving anthology of stories and poetry by top LGBTQ+ YA authors and new talent, giving their unique responses to the broad theme of pride. Each story has an illustration by an artist identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Compiled by Juno Dawson, author of THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN .

A celebration of LGBTQ+ talent, PROUD is a thought-provoking, funny, emotional read.

Contributors: Steve Antony, Dean Atta, Kate Alizadeh, Fox Benwell, Alex Bertie, Caroline Bird, Fatti Burke, Tanya Byrne, Moira Fowley-Doyle, Frank Duffy, Simon James Green, Leo Greenfield, Saffa Khan, Karen Lawler, David Levithan, Priyanka Meenakshi, Alice Oseman, Michael Lee Richardson, David Roberts, Cynthia So, Kay Staples, Jessica Vallance, Kristen Van Dam and Kameron White.

Rick by Alex Gino

Profound, moving, and – as Charlotte would say – radiant, this book will stay with anyone lucky enough to find it.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review for MELISSA (previously titled GEORGE ) Rick’s never questioned much. He’s tagged along with his best friend Jeff, even when Jeff’s acted like a bully. He’s let his Dad joke with him about girls, even though it makes him feel uncomfortable. Everyone around him seems to think that they’ve figured him out.

But the truth is, Rick hasn’t given his own identity much thought. Now Rick’s in middle school, and it’s a place of new possibilities. With the help of his new friends that he meets at the Rainbow Spectrum club, Rick embarks on a journey to find out who he truly is.

An inspiring story about finding your place in the world.

Just Like Everyone Else by Sarah Hagger-Holt

A commercial coming-of-age story for tweens exploring identity, family and self-acceptance, from award-winning author Sarah Hagger-Holt.

Thirteen-year-old Aidan can’t breathe in his crowded family home. Running is his only respite from four loud sisters and involved, touchy-feely parents. Then his mum makes an announcement: she’s having another baby. Only, this time it’s not for her; she will be a surrogate for gay couple Justin and Atif.

Aidan is incensed. As if his family wasn’t embarrassing – or big – enough already. But he’s also scared. Aidan thinks he might be gay, and he’s really struggling to accept this possibility. What if being around Justin and Atif means that he has to come out before he’s ready?

If only he were just like everyone else.

Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean

My name’s Archie Albright, and I know two things for certain:

1. My mum and dad kind of hate each other, and they’re not doing a great job of pretending that they don’t anymore.

2. They’re both keeping a secret from me, but I can’t figure out what.

Things aren’t going great for Archie Albright. His dad’s acting weird, his mum too, and all he wants is for everything to go back to normal, to three months before when his parents were happy and still lived together. When Archie sees a colourful, crumpled flyer fall out of Dad’s pocket, he thinks he may have found the answer. Only problem? The answer might just lie at the end of the rainbow, an adventure away.

Together with his best friends, Bell and Seb, Archie sets off on a heartwarming and unforgettable journey to try and fix his family, even if he has to break a few rules to do it…

Glitter Boy by Ian Eagleton

James loves dancing, poetry, and Mariah Carey (not in that order, though, because Mariah would obviously be first!). His teacher, Mr Hamilton, is getting married to his boyfriend and it seems that James will be part of a surprise choir performance at the wedding. But James’s father seems uncomfortable about the plan, and a lot of other things – like any mention of Mr Hamilton, and James’s dancing, and how James talks about his new friend Joel. Meanwhile, a different boy has been harassing James at school and calling him gay, and it’s getting worse every day. James can find relief with his beloved Nan, she’s been having worrying falls, and James can’t tell anyone, or she might be sent to a faraway care home. The secrets are building up, and James is starting to lose his characteristic spark. Can he find the strength to let the truth out?

• A joyful, raw and timely novel about family, friends, enemies, and being true to who you really are.
• Perfect for fans of Alex Gino, A.M. Dassu, and The Boy At the Back of the Class.
• Ian Eagleton is the author of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman, which was shortlisted for The Bookseller’s Book Of The Year – Discovery Category 2022

Melissa by Alex Gino

Formerly titled George, this is the unforgettable debut from Alex Gino.

“Allow me to introduce you to a remarkable book, full of love, wonder, hope, and the importance of getting to be who you were meant to be. You must read this.” David Levithan, author of Every Day and editor of George.

When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part . . . because she’s a boy.

• The timely and touching story from Stonewall Award Winning author Alex Gino
• Author of Rick and You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!
• Gino’s latest book, Alice Austen Lived Here, is out in April 2022

The Secret Sunshine Project by Benjamin Dean

A heart-warming story of kindness, courage and love in all its forms from the award-winning author of Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow. Perfect for 9+ readers and fans of Elle McNicoll, Lisa Thompson and Onjali Rauf.

Bea’s family are happy. Like, really happy. Like, kind of gross but also cute happy. So when they visit London Pride together and have the ultimate day out, Bea doesn’t think her family could possibly get any happier. But a year later, a grey cloud is following Bea’s family around. Dad has passed away, and without him around they have no choice but to pack their bags and move to the countryside to live with Gran.

With Bea’s big sister, Riley, taking the news hard, Bea will do anything to cheer her up. So with the help of new friends, The Secret Sunshine Project is formed – Bea’s plan to bring Pride to the countryside and a smile back to Riley’s face. There’s just one teeny tiny problem – the village mayor. A grumpy old woman who’s on a mission to rain on Bea’s parade . . .